Sources confirm to me exclusively that the hoops star-turned-actor (Dirt, One Tree Hill) will appear as an Active in the Jan. 8 episode of the soon-to-expire drama.

In the don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it cameo, Fox’s Doll will be seen rising from the imprint chair after having been given his original personality back. Next thing you know (spoiler alert!), he’s being released into the wild along with dozens of other Dolls.

The episode, which airs two weeks before Dollhouse‘s series finale on Jan. 22, also features a return appearance by Summer Glau.

This isn’t the first time Fox accepted a fourth-wall-shattering gig alongside a real-life significant other. In 2007, he recurred on Ugly Betty as the bodyguard-love interest to Wilhelmina, played by ex-wife Vanessa Williams.

Thoughts? Curious to see if Dushku and Fox have any reel chemistry? (See what I did there?)